“Who did you work with on the K2 Bloods case?” Jarek asked. “You mentioned someone from narcotics.”
“Ray Bond and his partner, Jeff Schnor.” Di sat perfectly still, not tapping her foot or glancing around, but he could sense her keen desire to get out of there.
“And how do you know Caden’s father?” he asked.
“I don’t really know him. Caden’s father hired my boss, Rex Grayson. Rex paid me to get involved.”
“Grayson is here in New York?” Jarek had served under Captain Rex Grayson.
“I didn’t say that. Rex is in Chicago. But since he knew I happened to live in Newburgh, he hired me to work the case for Bruce Avery, Caden’s father.”
He stared at her. “You’re with Grayson’s Guardians?”
She inclined her head and arched a brow. “Why are you so surprised?”
“I’m not, it’s just . . .” He let his voice trail off. As a cop, he didn’t appreciate private security groups getting involved in situations that were better off resolved through good old-fashioned police work. Yet he admired Rex Grayson as a person and an army captain. He turned his attention to the witness statement. “Anything else you can remember?”
“That’s all I can think of.” She drained her water and set it aside. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get out of here. I was hoping to get lunch, and I’m starved.”
“Yep. I’ll print this so you can sign it. We’ll also need your phone number in case we have more questions.” He rose to his feet. “After that, we’re out of here.”
Her review of the statement and signing off didn’t take long. She stood and headed out of the interview room.
“I’ll give you a ride home,” he said, following her out.
“That’s not necessary.” She didn’t so much as glance at him. “Thanks anyway.”
Why couldn’t she just go along with the plan? He forced a smile. “Really, Di, I’d rather drive you.”
“Fine.” She walked out the front door of the precinct and paused near the squad.
“You can ride in front.” He opened his driver’s side door, relieved when she followed suit. Once they were seated, he started the car and backed out of the parking space. “You live on Hollow Hill Road?”
“Yes.” She glanced at him. “Would you be willing to share the identity of the dead guy if his name pops in the system?”
He shouldn’t but nodded. “Yes, if you’re willing to help me figure out who he’s working for.”
After a brief pause, she nodded. “Okay.”
He counted her agreement as a win. The rest of the ride was done in silence. When he pulled up in front of her apartment building, a three-story brick structure that miraculously wasn’t marked up with graffiti, she didn’t hesitate to push her door open. “Don’t forget to call if you learn something.”
“Right back at you.” He got out of the car and was about to follow her inside when a crack of gunfire rang out. Di dove for the side of the building, while he ducked behind his squad and used his radio to call for backup.
Grimly realizing the threat to Di Milbrath was far from over.
2
Di mentally kicked herself for not anticipating the gunman would set up outside her apartment to wait for her. Pressing her back against the brick wall, she stayed low, pulled her weapon, and scanned the area, searching for him. She heard Jarek calling for backup and wished again that she’d insisted on heading home alone.
She didn’t want to drag Jarek or anyone else down with her. Especially not a cop who would insist on working within the confines of the law. Not that she didn’t appreciate the need for laws, but she preferred working on her own. It was one of the reasons she’d confronted the guy following her.
And the reason his disposable cell phone was burning a hole in her pocket.
“Do you see him?” Jarek called.
“Negative.” With the bright summer sunlight beating down on them, it was difficult to see anything useful. Her instincts told her the guy was positioned to the east, but she couldn’t be more specific.
“The shooter knows where you live?” Jarek asked.
